on 5/15/2000 11:05 PM, Todd Guttman at tguttman@COLUMBUS.RR.COM wrote:

Have any Westy owners on the list tried treating their canvas tops with
Nikwax Cotton Proof?  I've used Nixwax products on leather boots and 'tired'
laminate clothing (Ultrex) with great results - waterproofing renewed and
nearly bombproof.  (http://www.nikwax-usa.com/)

I'm tentatively planning to spray the canvas on our somewhat permeable
Westy's top with Nikwax's Cotton Proof product and wondered if anyone else
has already tried the same.

Nikwax products are breathable. They use and encapsulation of fibers instead
of plugging the holes between the fibers idea.  So, you could use that but
it works best in submersed solution (the washing machine) applications. (I
don't know how you would dunk the canvas other than taking it off and that
is unnecessary)
You could also use a product called Techtron mfged by Blue Magic Corp (not
the Chevron Techron). It is basically spray teflon in a can and does a
really good job.
The trick to making any water repellancy formulation last is to have the
surface as clean as possible and then to have as little of the cleaning
residue remain behind.
Thats why the newest DWR (durable water repellancy) formulation for
waterbroof breathables advises the user to wash the garment without any soap
at all. You'd be amazed at how great water cleans by itself!